The Penn's Grove record., 1887-08-27
A Trip to Halifax.

The town occupies q peninsula, whose
land but thinly overs q foundation OF
solid rock. East and West the salt
tide rolls in, and as there is no chance
for angry gales to disturb them, they
usually present a tranquil appearance.
On the west the northwest arm
stretches about three miles in length
and something over a quarter OF a mile
wide. Southwark and eastward lies
the harbor, by a broad channel con-
nected with Bedford Basin. This beau
tiful sheet of water Is nearly due north,
and affords ten square miles OF safe
anchorage. A fine driveway extends
around the lagoon, and the neighborlng
scenery is or an especially romantic
and attractive character. AT one point
can be seen the ruins Of a band stand
and other structures erected by the gay
Duke of Kent.
At many places along this i%ron-bound
coast, and through the interior OF Nova
Scotia, the natural pavement of filnty
rock Is scanned with veins of gold-bear-
ing quartz. For the first time efforts
are now being made to develop these
valuable mines in a purely scientific
manner, and there is every reason TO
predict that during the next foul years
the wealth of the province will be
largely increased from this source.
While we were walking IN Darlington
street. one of the chief business thor
oughfares of Halifax, a man met us,
uuconcernediy sauntering along with
an oblong square of metal on his shoul
der. Upon inquiring we learned that
this bar was pure gold, weighing sew
enty-three pounds, and worth some
thing over twenty-one thousand dollars.
The treasure came from the Montague
mine, situated only a few miles from
the city, and for its extent one OF the
richest in the world.
Seen from the citadel, from the har-
Dor or from Dartmouth, a pleasant
town on the opposite shore, Halifax Is
fine enough to look at; but a close i'll
spection reveals many streets OF anclsnt
and dilapidated building, some of them,
strange to say, In the most desirable
and slightly localities. In other dis
tricts the houses have a neat and COM
Portable appearance. and there are quite
a number of elegant mansions. The
Province Building is the most import.
ant public ediice, and intellectually
considered among the finest IN America.
There are several beautiful churches,
and the buildings for charitable and
educational purposes are well VI
structed, pleasant and commodlous.
One of the city's chief attractions is It's
Public Garden, whose plain wood fence
gives us an idea of the beauties of
blossom and foliage which it conceals.
Considering their extent, these achieve
ments of the florist and the landscape
gardener are unequalled by any park III
lhe New World. The numerous. large
flower beds are arranged ia absolute
perfection of system and unique de
signs, and tile combinations of shrub
berry are as beautiful as trained skill
can make them; while green extents
and several lovely ponds complete n
picture presented with such true atten-
ton to the laws of harmony that The
whole effect is wonderfully natural;
and one might easily believe the falt
region reached its present perfection
without human assistance. Near the
Public Garden a large common Is BENZ
| constructed, and north of Halifax, be
tween the harbor and the northwest
arm. is located an extensive park, with
splendid drives and romantic pathway 3
winding among the great messy walk
and sombre evergreens.
The society of this Apglo-Canadian
city IS very refined and exclusive. But
n stranger managing to obtain IA
proper Introduction will find that hos
pitallty in the highest sense is thor
oughly understood and practised. ln-
deed, n ls received and entertained
with such bountirul goodwill and
couItly taste, that only u brief sojourn
is necessary to make him forget the
lack of American snap in admiration OF
the splendid social qualities. New
Workers or Bostonians could teach this
people much regarding business, and
they in turn might give many lessons
in substantial enjoyment.
The average New England winter IS
much like that of Halifax; but in sum-
mer this region is usually cool and
delightful; while a peculiar humidity
imparts a sort of mellowness to the
atmosphere, and furnishes an agreeable
change from the hard dryness noticed
in SO many localities along our Allan
tic coast. This phase, with Its won
derfully healthy situation has given
the town a race OF stalwaTt men and
rosy-cheeked ome The death rate
is exceedingly low, and were there suf-
hcient inducements for young people to
stay at home, the population OF forty
thousand before many years would
| douhla from natural sources.